AUSTRALIA PERMANENT RESIDENCYAustralia PR Advisory from Dubai — Skilled Migration and Family Pathways

Permanent residence lets you live, work and study in Australia indefinitely. It is granted through a permanent visa, such as the Skilled Independent (189), Skilled Nominated (190), Employer Nomination Scheme (186) or Partner visas. Only the Australian Department of Home Affairs decides whether a visa is granted.

The main points-tested options are the Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189), the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). Employer-sponsored PR is available through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186). Which fits depends on your occupation, points and whether a state or employer will nominate you.

The 189 is a permanent visa for invited skilled workers who are not sponsored by an employer, state or family member. You submit an Expression of Interest in SkillSelect and are ranked on points. The 2026–27 planning level is 21,090 places, and invitations depend on the competition each round.

The 190 is a permanent visa for skilled workers nominated by an Australian state or territory. Nomination adds 5 points, and each state has its own occupation list, criteria and expectations about living and working there. The 2026–27 planning level is 35,500 places.

The 491 is a provisional visa, valid for five years, for skilled workers nominated by a state or territory (or sponsored by an eligible relative) to live and work in a designated regional area. Nomination adds 15 points. After meeting residence and income requirements you may be able to apply for permanent residence through the subclass 191 visa. Planning levels for 2026–27 are 14,110, well below the previous year.

A skills assessment is an independent check by a designated assessing authority that your qualifications and experience meet the standard for your nominated occupation. Most points-tested visas require a positive assessment. Each authority has its own documents, fees and timelines, so choose the right one early.

You need to show competent English, and most applicants do this with an approved test such as IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, Cambridge or OET. Higher English levels earn extra points, and some professions need higher scores for registration. Some applicants can show English through passports or qualifications, so check which evidence applies.

Points are awarded for factors such as age, English ability, skilled work experience, qualifications and extras like a skilled partner, a Professional Year or regional study. You need at least 65 points to submit an Expression of Interest, but invited candidates usually score higher. The Government announced a points-test reform in May 2026, so expect changes.

Yes. The May 2026 Budget announced that the permanent migration points test will be reformed to favour younger, better-educated and higher-skilled migrants. Detailed settings had not been announced when we compiled this page, so plan for change and check Home Affairs for the latest.

Visa application charges rose on 1 July 2026. Published figures put the 189 at AUD 6,135, the 190, 491 and 186 at about AUD 6,140, and the Partner visa (820/801 or 309/100) at AUD 11,710 for the main applicant. Additional applicants, skills assessments, English tests, health checks and police certificates cost extra.

Most skilled visas have no formal settlement-funds test, but you must pay application charges, assessments and medical costs, and you should budget for relocation. Some state nominations suggest minimum savings. Employer-sponsored visas also require the salary to meet income thresholds, such as the AUD 79,423 Core Skills Income Threshold from 1 July 2026.

Processing times vary by visa, occupation priority and the number of applications, and Home Affairs publishes current estimates. Partner visas are in two stages and can take well over a year. Times are not guaranteed, so avoid planning your resignation or relocation around a fixed date.

Yes. For 2026–27 the Government allocated 129,590 places across the Skill and Family streams to applicants already living in Australia and 55,110 to offshore applicants. If you are applying from the UAE, you are competing for the smaller offshore share, so a strong profile and a realistic plan matter.

Yes. The 189, 190 and 491 visas do not require a job offer. They are points-based and depend on your occupation, assessment and score, and for 190 and 491 on state nomination. Employer-sponsored visas such as the 186 do require a job offer and an employer nomination.

Generally yes. A partner and dependent children can usually be included, and each additional applicant pays a charge and must meet health and character requirements. A partner with competent English or relevant skills may also add points.

Each visa uses an occupation list, and state lists differ from the federal list. The assessing authority and the list can change, so we check your occupation against the current lists before you invest in assessments or tests.

The Business Innovation and Investment visa (subclass 188) closed to new applications on 31 July 2024. The Global Talent visa (subclass 858) was replaced by the National Innovation Visa, which uses the same subclass number and is invitation-only for exceptional achievers from 6 December 2024.

You can live, work and study in Australia and may be eligible for Medicare, subject to current rules. Permanent visas carry a five-year travel facility, after which you need a Resident Return visa to re-enter as a resident. You may later apply for citizenship if you meet the residence requirements.

No, you can apply yourself. But if you pay anyone for immigration assistance on an Australian visa, Australian law requires that person to be a registered migration agent or a lawyer. Check any agent on the OMARA public register.

No. Visatrix Global is an independent advisory firm. Only the Department of Home Affairs decides whether a visa is granted, and no consultant can guarantee approval, invitations or processing times. We help you assess your options and prepare an accurate, well-organised application.